Swinger Abbott not ready to rotate out of starting XI
tion catch at short mid-wicket in trying to celebrate too hastily.
Besides the fact that the former Australian captain’s chirp is a source of fabrication that has grown in status over time, the other myth is that Gibbs’s drop singularly lost the game for Hansie Cronje’s team.
South Africa’s failure to defend 271 – quite an imposing one-day total in the previous millennium – had more to do with the fact that Nicky Bojé had come in from the cold, having to replace the injured all-rounder Jacques Kallis in a crucial match with no game time.
Bojé’s rustiness showed as the left-arm spinner conceded 29 runs in his three overs at 9.66 runs per over.
Twenty-six years later, South Africa seem to have learnt from that harsh lessons – everyone in the current 15man squad bar left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso, have all had a run in this World Cup.
And unlike Boje, the back-up squad members, like Rilee Rossouw and Kyle Abbott, have made an immediate impact.
Rossouw has smashed two consecutive half-centuries and seamer Abbott has claimed six wickets in the two opportunities he has received, which includes figures of 4/21 in his last outing at the Manuka Oval against Ireland.
Abbott believes this is by no means a coincidence, but rather due to the hard work the entire squad is putting in at training between games.
“The important thing for most teams going into this tournament is the form the guys on the sidelines are in because you never know when the opportunity is going to come up, like we saw Vernon (Philander) got a little injury, and suddenly you are on the stage,” Abbott explained.
“It is going to take 15 men to win this (tournament), and not just 11, so whichever XI is out on the field, that is what we will back and that’s the end of the story. I would like to think I have put my hand up, but I think there is more pressure coming into a game when you haven’t played and be expected to perform immediately, than possibly playing consistently through the tournament. I feel I am ready for any occasion that is coming up.”
The Dolphins stalwart has certainly provided the Proteas brainstrust, consisting of coach Russell Domingo, captain AB de Villiers and selector-on-tour Hussein Manack, with a few interesting conundrums, especially due to the fact that Philander should have recovered from his hamstring strain for Saturday’s crunch clash with Pakistan at Eden Park.
Abbott’s current red-hot form does not guarantee him a place due to Philander’s greater experience and superior batting ability, but the way he swung the ball, especially against Ireland,